GE to Upgrade P&O Cruises' Oceana

P&O Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation & PLC, has chosen GE’s Marine Solutions once again to provide upgrades on board its 77,499-ton cruise vessel Oceana.

Formerly known as Ocean Princess, the cruise ship was built in 1998 and had GE’s Syconum 2 electronic controller on board. GE will now be responsible for replacing existing controllers with the new generation of power electronics controllers on the four propulsion drives. Enabled by a decentralized architecture, the new digital propulsion controller benefits from a compact design, reducing its installation costs while improving operational safety through enhanced efficiency, asset availability and operational precision, GE said.

“Oceana is a very popular vessel, offering fly-cruise holidays to an increasing number of new cruise guests. Having reliable and capable ships across our fleet is crucial to capitalize on this growing opportunity,” said Donnacha O'Driscoll, Carnival UK senior vice president. “Following the successful first-phase upgrade provided by GE on Queen Mary 2 last year, we are delighted to continue this partnership with GE and embrace its latest technology to ensure smooth sailing for our guests.”

Harnessing the power of digital technology, GE said it will also carry out extensive shop tests at its Belfort Center of Excellence using its real-time simulator. By creating a digital model of the vessel, GE engineers can simulate different scenarios and test a vessel’s behavior. GE is, therefore, able to facilitate a reliable upgrade within a short time period. The upgrade provided to the Oceana is expected to be completed in Hamburg at the end of this year.

“We have, in total, equipped 30 vessels across the Carnival Corporation brands with our electric propulsion systems. Our expertise in propulsion controls upgrades is also well-acknowledged by Carnival Corporation & PLC and vessel owners worldwide,” said Tim Schweikert, president & CEO, GE’s Marine Solutions. “We are a long-term partner with Carnival and have, in the past, provided upgrade services for them on nine vessels. This agreement with P&O Cruises further reinforces our close partnership and is a clear indicator of the quality provided by our marine services.”